Sixpoint Brewing Bengali IPA

Sixpoint have positioned this Bengali as a tiger of an IPA. A bold statement indeed. However I already know Sixpoint for their Resin – the bitterest hop attack my tongue ever experienced, so I know what to expect from Bengali. My hope is that Sixpoint have reigned their hop ponies in a little bit this time, I love hops, but there is a limit to how much my flavour receptors can handle.

Poured from a 355ml can (yes cans are back in vogue these days, better for the environment and cheaper to package beers, deal with your hang-ups people!) into a nonic pint.

A: Faintly hazed golden-orange body with a fluffy 2cm cream head that leaves a spiders-web of lace as it fades. Not bad, you know I love my yeast in the glass (i.e. non-filtered) but this is nice too. 7/10.

S: Fresh pine upfront, with citric (orange starburst) notes throughout. Not detecting any malts, they’re in there but the hops are just too big and fresh to let them come out and play. Did I mention how fresh and juicy this IPA smells? It’s a damn good bouquet. 9/10.

T: Interesting spin on an IPA from Sixpoint – It’s almost entirely hops; pine, orange starburst and herbal characters all over. The malts are balanced in a way that sweetness is hardly noted at all. A showcase for hops then from Sixpoint. There is bitterness in the finish but thankfully it is a bit more restrained than the Resin. 7/10.

M: Medium bodied with some hop oiliness and a light carbonation. Pretty good stuff. 8/10.

D: Well it’s a tall order for any IPA to follow after my review of the spectacular Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA. Bengali is a decent effort however I still think the West Coast is the best coast [for breweries that is]. Oh yeah and the balance could definitely be more even-handed between sweet/bitter. That said – given a nice hot curry this is one can of beer I would instinctually grasp for. 7/10.